【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the protective effect of early motion on articular cartilage after joint allograft by performing a controlled trial between different post-operation strategies after joint allograft in an animal model. Methods Twenty hemi-knee joints were harvested from 10 6-month-old New Zealand white rabbits (male or female, weighing 2.5-3.0 kg); 10 hemi-knee joints by deep frozen treatment (donors) were transplanted to unilateral knee joints (recipients) of 10 6-month-old Chinchilla rabbits (male or female, weighing 2.5-3.0 kg), which were divided into early motion group (n=5) and sustained fixation group (n=5); and 10 hemi-knee joints were used as blank control (n=5) and frozen control (n=5). The articular cartilage of allogenic joints was detected by X-ray film, gross, and histology at 6 weeks after operation. Results Gross observation: no obvious limitation of joint movements was observed in early motion group, but obvious limitation in sustained fixation group. X-ray films: the bone ends between donor and recipient healed well with good paraposition and alignment on the operation day and 2 weeks after operation; at 6 weeks, angulation deformity was observed in early motion group of 3 rabbits, and paraposition and alignment were satisfactory in sustained fixation group. Histological observation: HE staining showed that the chondrocytes had normal quantity and morphology with few nuclear fragmentation and karyolysis in early motion group, but the quantity of chondrocytes sharply decreased with dissolved nuclei and numerous fibrous tissues in the cartilage matrix in sustained fixation group. The cell survival rate of the early motion group (49.66% ± 2.15%) was significantly higher than that of the sustained fixation group (20.68% ± 1.24%) (P lt; 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy observation: nuclear membrane was intact with chromatin condensation and edema of mitochondria and rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in early motion group, and that the membrane of chondrocyte vanished with blurring border between chondrocyte and matrix, rupture of nuclear membrane and the disappearance of chromatin and organelles could be found in sustained fixation group. Conclusion Early motion has protective effect on articular cartilage after joint allograft, but cannot completely prevent degeneration of the allogenic articular cartilage.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of retrograde muscle release in treatment of mild to moderate type ischemic muscle contracture of forearm classified by Tsuge.MethodsBetween March 2010 and September 2018, 11 patients with mild to moderate ischemic muscle contracture of forearm were treated with retrograde muscle release. There were 6 males and 5 females with an average age of 24 years (range, 16-29 years). According to Tsuge classification, 6 cases were mild type and 5 cases were moderate type. The interval between injury and operation was 9 months to 25 years, with a median of 17 years. The scar cords in the muscle of the middle one-third of the forearm was released firstly. If the standard of sufficient release was not reached, further releasing the scar cords in the muscle and the tense tendon structure in the proximal one-third of the forearm and the origins of the flexor muscles was necessary. If the standard was still not reached, the origins of the flexor muscles can be released and slid. The effectiveness was evaluated from six aspects of the range of motion of the hand and wrist, dexterity, grip strength, sensation, subjective function scores [quick-disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire (Quick-DASH) and the patient-related wrist/hand evaluation (PRWHE)] and satisfaction.ResultsAll the incisions healed by first intention. Eight patients were followed up 1-106 months (median, 13 months). The range of motion of the hand and wrist was significantly improved, the results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 75%. The patient’s dexterity evaluation scored a perfect score of 12, which was close to the normal hand dexterity. At last follow-up, the grip strength on the affected side was 37.6%-95.5% of the contralateral side, with an average of 77.6%. Seven patients had normal sensation before and after operation, and the two-point discrimination of median nerve and ulnar nerve was 4-5 mm at last follow-up; 1 patient with forearm mechanical crush injury still felt numb after operation, and the two-point discrimination of median nerve and ulnar nerve was 8 mm and 7 mm, respectively. The Quick-DASH score was 0-15.9, with an average of 4.5, and the PRWHE score was 0-23.0, with an average of 6.6. All the patients were satisfied with the surgery and the effectiveness.ConclusionA targeted retrograde muscle release method for mild to moderate type ischemic contracture of forearm can achieve satisfactory effectiveness.